2006 -- Statement by Senator Barack Obama on the subjects of Senator Hillary Clinton and the Iraq War Vote, New Yorker Magazine:
"You know, I think very highly of Hillary. The more I get to know her, the more I admire her. I think she’s the most disciplined—one of the most disciplined people—I’ve ever met. She’s one of the toughest. She’s got an extraordinary intelligence. And she is, she’s somebody who’s in this stuff for the right reasons. She’s passionate about moving the country forward on issues like health care and children. So it’s not clear to me what differences we’ve had since I’ve been in the Senate.
"I think what people might point to is our different assessments of the war in Iraq, although I’m always careful to say that I was not in the Senate, so perhaps the reason I thought it was such a bad idea was that I didn’t have the benefit of U.S. intelligence. And, for those who did, it might have led to a different set of choices. So that might be something that sort of is obvious. But, again, we were in different circumstances at that time: I was running for the U.S. Senate, she had to take a vote, and casting votes is always a difficult test."
2007 -- Senator Obama declares he's running for president.
2008 -- Statement by Sen. Obama on the subjects of Sen. Hillary Clinton and the Iraq War Vote, MSNBC Ohio Democratic Debate:
"[O]n the critical issues that actually matter I believe that my judgment has been sound and it has been judgment that I think has been superior to Senator Clinton's. . .
"Senator Clinton often says that she is ready on Day 1, but in fact she was ready to give in to George Bush on Day 1 on this critical issue. So the same person that she criticizes for having terrible judgment — and we can't afford to have another one of those — in fact she facilitated and enabled this individual to make a decision that has been strategically damaging to the United States of America."
2002 -- Floor Speech of Senator Hillary Clinton, on S.J. Res. 45, A Resolution to Authorize the Use of United States Armed Forces Against Iraq:
"My vote is not, however, a vote for any new doctrine of pre-emption, or for uni-lateralism, or for the arrogance of American power or purpose -- all of which carry grave dangers for our nation, for the rule of international law and for the peace and security of people throughout the world."
Iraq War Vote Hillary Clinton Barack Obama News Gender Politics Rhode Island Ohio Texas MSNBC Democratic Debate
